A LifeGroup is a small group of people that usually meets in a home for the purpose of doing life together. LifeGroups have a clear purpose of making disciples that can reproduce themselves in others. We do this by seeking Jesus with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13), and building relationships based in honesty, trust, and a willingness to sacrifice for each other.
LifeGroups are the basic building blocks for developing an authentic community of believers with the goal of missional living. The LifeGroup concept is not new, but the goals today are different. I believe there is a greater sense that God is calling us closer to Himself. This requires a level of intimacy with God and sacrifice, sometimes even suffering, if we are to become like Jesus.
The traditional view of discipleship in Western Culture is based on listening carefully to our instructor, diligently taking notes, and then applying what we have learned to our lives. The problem with this is that people think they cannot disciple others unless they are good at classroom-style teaching, and in this model the instructor does all the thinking. But teaching as Jesus did is often simply being a model of the things being taught, having discussions about practical things, and taking time with people.
Rather than the traditional lecture or classroom model, LifeGroups use the discussion or case-study model more. The instructor or leader introduces discussion questions or a case study requiring a solution. This will produce interactive learning. The leader guides the discussion toward the desired goals, but this interactive method produces learning relationships. We want to educate in such a way that all members of the group participate in the conversation.
Members of the group discover the answers using their own critical thought process and analysis as the leader guides the conversation. In the traditional lecture format, the answers are given by the instructor. In the LifeGroup model, the answer is not given, but discovered. When people in the group discover answers for themselves, they own them, and they will remember them.
Someone has said, “We want to build a relational bridge that will support the weight of truth.” This involves an emotional-relational connection with people. Some relational bridges are very fragile. When truth is shared people get offended and the relational bridge collapses. When the bridge is strong, we can bring any kind of truth to the table and the relational bridge does not collapse. This is because trust has been established. LifeGroups are best suited to this goal, and meeting in homes is a fruitful environment to build this kind of discipleship relationship.
Biblical discipleship is built on a passionate desire to follow Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and by building relationships with others based in defending, protecting, and sacrificing for each other. Honesty and vulnerability produce trust. We grow into the image of Jesus by being entirely genuine, then we love and help each other as needed. We make disciples organically by doing life together, sharing our hearts, and serving each other. LifeGroup leaders are encouraged to use the Bible as their primary curriculum as much as possible.
The LifeGroup purpose is to find deep and genuine discipleship relationships with God and with each other on both an intellectual and an emotional level. When we get this right, the fruit is love, trust, and a deep commitment to God and to each other, as well as a desire to share this with others. Along with a disciplined prayer life, God’s Word is the centerpiece of all we do. Jesus calls us into a loving relationship with him for the purpose of becoming like him, as we partner with him to bring the Gospel to others.
LifeGroups are the basic building blocks for developing an authentic community of believers with the goal of missional living. The LifeGroup concept is not new, but the goals today are different. I believe there is a greater sense that God is calling us closer to Himself. This requires a level of intimacy with God and sacrifice, sometimes even suffering, if we are to become like Jesus.
The traditional view of discipleship in Western Culture is based on listening carefully to our instructor, diligently taking notes, and then applying what we have learned to our lives. The problem with this is that people think they cannot disciple others unless they are good at classroom-style teaching, and in this model the instructor does all the thinking. But teaching as Jesus did is often simply being a model of the things being taught, having discussions about practical things, and taking time with people.
Rather than the traditional lecture or classroom model, LifeGroups use the discussion or case-study model more. The instructor or leader introduces discussion questions or a case study requiring a solution. This will produce interactive learning. The leader guides the discussion toward the desired goals, but this interactive method produces learning relationships. We want to educate in such a way that all members of the group participate in the conversation.
Members of the group discover the answers using their own critical thought process and analysis as the leader guides the conversation. In the traditional lecture format, the answers are given by the instructor. In the LifeGroup model, the answer is not given, but discovered. When people in the group discover answers for themselves, they own them, and they will remember them.
Someone has said, “We want to build a relational bridge that will support the weight of truth.” This involves an emotional-relational connection with people. Some relational bridges are very fragile. When truth is shared people get offended and the relational bridge collapses. When the bridge is strong, we can bring any kind of truth to the table and the relational bridge does not collapse. This is because trust has been established. LifeGroups are best suited to this goal, and meeting in homes is a fruitful environment to build this kind of discipleship relationship.
Biblical discipleship is built on a passionate desire to follow Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and by building relationships with others based in defending, protecting, and sacrificing for each other. Honesty and vulnerability produce trust. We grow into the image of Jesus by being entirely genuine, then we love and help each other as needed. We make disciples organically by doing life together, sharing our hearts, and serving each other. LifeGroup leaders are encouraged to use the Bible as their primary curriculum as much as possible.
The LifeGroup purpose is to find deep and genuine discipleship relationships with God and with each other on both an intellectual and an emotional level. When we get this right, the fruit is love, trust, and a deep commitment to God and to each other, as well as a desire to share this with others. Along with a disciplined prayer life, God’s Word is the centerpiece of all we do. Jesus calls us into a loving relationship with him for the purpose of becoming like him, as we partner with him to bring the Gospel to others.
Posted in Disciple-Making Discipleship Updates